Centre for Applied Research, Education and Social Sciences

This department is an integral part of the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences. It comprises the Centre for Applied School Research, as well as a number of research and development projects.

The Centre for Applied Research, Education and Social Sciences is characterised by working closely with schools, day care centres and study programmes in education and social education, in order to generate new knowledge relevant to practice.

Areas of special focus in applied research

The Centre for Applied Research, Education and Social Sciences works with a wide range of issues in the theory and practice of education, with a particular focus on:

Learning materials, curricula and technology

Food, body and movement

Digitalisation, general education and critical thinking

Play, creativity and opportunities for inclusion

Project didactics and exploratory teaching methods

Health promotion in educational practice

Taste and aesthetic forms of activity

Active citizenship and democratic education

Understanding technology, reading and media habits

Reading, writing and multimodal authoring

Programmes in The Centre for Applied Research, Education and Social Sciences

Technology and subject didactics

General didactics and pedagogy

Five principles for applied research

The Centre for Applied Research, Education and Social Sciences is based on five fundamental ethical principles:

1 – The practice angle
Our applied research aims to develop the ability of participants to act independently and professionally with respect for others.

Teachers and students, social educators and children, supervisors and managers, researchers and consultants collaborate in the field of practice with a focus on professionalisation and opportunities for action and empowerment, so that everyone will be able to participate actively, achieve ownership and help make educational approaches and interventions both relevant and sustainable.

2 – Empirical curiosity
Our applied research adopts an empirical and curiosity-driven approach to practice, offering a critical-constructive understanding that explores concrete dilemmas and issues from several angles.

3 – Methodical diversity
Our applied research uses and combines various research methods, both qualitative and quantitative, in an open and non-dogmatic way consistent with the particular field of practice and attendant problem areas that make up the object of research.

4 – Specific focus points
In order to make a relevant and discernible impact on practice, our applied research undertakes to employ specific artefacts, as well as various approaches involving food, the body, movement, curricula, teaching materials and other forms of technology.

5 – Holistic approach
Our applied research is holistic. It takes the local, specific context seriously and draws on practical knowledge that is relevant to making an impact on a broad front: for whom and how is this working, and under what circumstances?

A node of national and international collaborative research

The Centre for Applied Research, Education and Social Sciences is the headquarters of a number of well-established research centres. In addition, it collaborates in research with an international scope:

CAS – Centre for Applied School and Education Research

Læremiddel.dk – Knowledge Centre for Designs for Learning

NVFS – Knowledge Centre for Free Schools

FIIBL – Research and Innovation Centre for Sport, Movement and Learning

LSUL – Laboratory for Coherent Education and Learning

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